Damage to Limerick hospital doors diverts access to A&E

AMBULANCE crews are being forced to use the public entrance to access the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick, due to heavy storm damage suffered last week.

The HSE confirmed to the Limerick Leader in a statement that the ambulance bay doors where patients are normally transferred to A&E were damaged in last Wednesday’s storm and are due to be replaced this coming Friday and next Tuesday.

As a result of the damage to the doors suffered last week, emergency patients are being transferred “in full view of the public - including children” through the front entrance of the hospital, an eyewitness said.

“A semi-permanent marked route for the ambulance personnel transiting patients from the public entrance to the core of the emergency department is underway and will be completed this [Tuesday]evening,” said the spokesperson. As of yesterday, a total of 35 patients were waiting on trolleys in the A&E department, which is the highest number in the country.

The spokesperson explained that there was a “significant increase” in the numbers of patients attending the emergency department due to the current flu bug.